What Happens In Davos, Doesn't Stay In DavosIssue: Vol. 55, No. 2, February 2015Amusement and music operators today have nearly all the pieces they need to play a central role in tomorrow's personally networked world. The tricky part will be to assemble those pieces into services so ubiquitous that they blend seamlessly into daily experience... by Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

The Deceptive Language Of Business, Taking On The Dreaded 'New Normal'Issue: Vol. 55, No. 1, January 2015We've all heard of "the new normal" over the past few years. All in all, it's an utterly useless phrase. It's arguably worse than its close relation the "paradigm shift." The brief alliterative catchphrase very strongly implies there is a "normal" when it comes to business, the economy and consumer tastes... by Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

Is Coin-Op Phoning It In?Issue: Vol. 54, No. 12, December 2014There are many things you can do with smartphones, but ignoring them is not an option for the coin-op industry... by Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

What Information Overload? Bring On The Big Data!Issue: Vol. 54, No. 11, November 2014Have you noticed that the once-overused phrase "information overload" has fallen out of favor? It's become unfashionable and outdated... by Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

Why Is It Here, And Where Is Bulk Vending Headed?Issue: Vol. 54, No. 10, October 2014In a recent conversation with a longtime bulk vending professional, we came to the same conclusion: The industry remains hunkered down. Large operations are seeking ever-greater efficiencies... by Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

Uncertainty In Bulk Vending's Brave New WorldIssue: Vol. 54, No. 9, September 2014Much has been written in the business press in recent years about how to manage change. Some companies pay lots of money for seminars on the topic. And clever guys in nice suits earn a good living thinking up apt analogies (there is still a market for snake oil)... by Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

Luck Is No Longer A Variable For Bulk OperatorsIssue: Vol. 54, No. 8, August 2014Not too long ago you could make a good profit in bulk vending simply by being lucky. Success only required basic arithmetic skills and the good fortune of being in the right place at the right time -- but that's no longer the case... by Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

Churn, Baby, Churn. Declining Dynamism In Larger Economy Issue: Vol. 54, No. 6, June 2014A recent Brookings Institute study suggests that the creation and failure rate of businesses in the U.S. is on a sustained decline. For more than 30 years, the number of businesses less than a year old has been falling... by Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

Lessons Learned From The Life Of The Mad Mogul Felix DennisIssue: Vol. 54, No. 7, July 2014Felix Dennis, Dead at 67. That the majority of obituaries begin with a similar headline always struck me as a bit diminishing to the deceased. In the instance of Felix Dennis, it seems particularly inappropriate... by Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

Can Operators Cash In On Heavy Summer Traffic?Issue: Vol. 54, No. 5, May 2014This summer will be significant for bulk vending operators across the country. While the business pages report an improving economy, a large percentage of operators has yet to feel a positive impact... Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

Are Vendors Adapting Too Slowly To Changing Retail Landscape?Issue: Vol. 54, No. 4, April 2014It is no secret that retail is in the midst of a major transition. If the classic shopping mall is not dying, then it is certainly in some transformative stage. While traditional anchor stores fight for their lives against aggressive online retailers, mom-and-pops are facing the perils of a down economy... Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

The Dangers Of Binary Thinking In A Complex WorldIssue: Vol. 54, No. 3, March 2014I was out with a group of small business owners recently who were bemoaning the difficulty of doing business in New York City. Taxes, regulations and cutthroat competition are the major complaints. Of course, if you want access to a marketplace of eight million potential customers, those sound like petty obstacles | Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

Hiring Veterans Is Worth The EffortIssue: Vol. 54, No. 2, February 2014The government doesn't make it easy to hire former service personnel, but their experience in teamwork and problem-solving should move their job applications to the top of the stack | Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

Trust Is Paramount In The Relationships BusinessIssue: Vol. 54, No. 2, February 2014The amusement and music industry no longer is the only source for exciting entertainment equipment, but we are the experts in placing and running it | Nick MontanoAuthor: Nick Montano

Looking Back To Move Ahead In 2014Issue: Vol. 54, No. 1, January 2014Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it | Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

Building A Bulk Vending BrandIssue: Vol. 53, No. 10, October 2013Should operators consider branding their companies? Before dismissing the idea, you should realize the very nature of branding has changed over the past few years... by Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

Is Anyone Listening To The Feedback?Issue: Vol. 53, No. 10, October 2013Not long ago, a bulk vending operator told me that nearly everything he needs to know about his business is a product of software: Numbers go in and numbers come out. That's just wrong... by Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

The Power Of 'Mom And Pop' ManagementIssue: Vol. 53, No. 9, September 2013Small businesses looking to larger businesses for "best practices" often adopt exactly the wrong ones. The results can be humorous... by Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

Gaining The 30,000 Foot View Of The Daily MazeIssue: Vol. 53, No. 8, August 2013Not long ago, a bulk vending operator confessed to me a growing uneasiness concerning his business. "Sometimes I feel like a rat in a maze," he said. Maybe the 30,000-ft. view could help him find a way out...by Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

Managing Risk Through Better Business PracticesIssue: Vol. 53, No. 6, June 2013According to conventional wisdom and enduring statistics, about 50% of small business startups fail within the first few years. It would seem that small businesses are a coin toss that hardly seem worth the time and effort... by Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

Thinking Outside The Box May Be the ProblemIssue: Vol. 53, No. 5, May 2013I recently met a young man who was new to business. Bright-eyed and enthusiastic, he looked as if he was wearing his first grownup suit. He managed to land a decent job in a creative field, but he now seemed perplexed. Returning from a corporate retreat where junior employees were encouraged to "think outside the box," he was confused that many of his "out of the box" ideas had been shot down immediately... by Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

The Sin Tax ThreatIssue: Vol. 53, No. 4, April 2013Last year, after a deranged shooter committed mass murder at a movie theater in Aurora, CO, that town's mayor told reporters he was thinking about calling for a ban on violent videogames and maybe imposing sin taxes on them. This ongoing story carries important lessons for the entire music and games industry... by Marcus WebbAuthor: Marcus Webb

Trade Show Takeaway: Back To NormalIssue: Vol. 53, No. 4, April 2013Another year, another show. There is something to be said for viewing an industry through the lens of annual gatherings. Some observations about the NBVA's collocation with Amusement Expo... by Hank SchlesingerAuthor: Hank Schlesinger

Seven Strategies For Sales SuccessIssue: Vol. 53, No. 3, March 2013Every organization involved in music and games is a sales company -- or should be. Operators sell to locations. Distributors sell to operators. Manufacturers effectively sell to both. Associations sell to everybody. Based on my own experiences and in-person observations of world-class sales professionals in various industries, here are seven strategies for more successful sales... by Marcus WebbAuthor: Marcus Webb